Smithfield American Legion Post 49 is conducting its 2021 oratorical contest for high school students.

The contest is open to homeschooled students age 19 and under, as well as those in public or private schools. Local and regional winners will receive scholarship awards, and the top national prize is a $25,000 college scholarship.

Students will first compete locally in January 2021. They will be judged on two orations, one 8 to 10 minutes on a topic related to the U.S. Constitution and another three to five minutes on an assigned topic. Further details can be found at www.legion.org/oratorical. Interested students, teachers, guidance counselors or parents should contact Legionnaire Greg Mueller at vaoratorical@yahoo.com or call 757-477-7904.